Conservation Efforts

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esthetically and economically, natural dyes are at the heart of Threads of Life’s mission. But buying naturally dyed textiles is not an end in itself; our support for natural dyes is also a means to address environmental conservation.

Depletion of local forests and loss of diversity in managed gardens threatens subsistence farmers across Indonesia. Without a solid plan for conservation, rising demand for naturally dyed textiles can quickly lead to scarcity of natural dye materials.

Only a committed business partner who offers long-term financial security over short-term gain can provide the incentives for sustainable forest management.

Threads of Life and its partner organization, the Bebali Foundation, take on that role everywhere we work. Our field staff works with local cooperatives to develop sustainable harvesting techniques and efficient use of natural resources.

Threads of Life is a fair trade business that uses culture and conservation to alleviate poverty in rural Indonesia. The heirloom-quality textiles and baskets we commission are made with local materials and natural dyes. With the proceeds from the Threads of Life gallery, we help weavers to form independent cooperatives and to manage their resources sustainably.